Flatware for spaghetti

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a flatware set for spaghetti. When spaghetti is eaten, the spaghetti threads are taken up onto the fork by turning the fork on its axis. In order to improve the spaghetti take-up, the fork ( 5 ) has the feature that the at least two teeth ( 8,9 ) extend substantially helically around a central axis of the fork. The fork teeth ( 8,9 ) then pick up the threads of spaghetti better. Despite a helical shape of the teeth ( 8,9 ), it is nevertheless possible to eat conveniently with this fork ( 5 ), since this fork ( 5 ) is pulled out of the mouth in a helical movement.

The invention relates to a flatware set for spaghetti.

When spaghetti is eaten the spaghetti threads are taken up onto the forkby turning the fork on its axis. The fork teeth then pick up the threadsof spaghetti better. Despite a helical shape of the teeth, it isnevertheless possible to eat conveniently with this fork since this forkis pulled out of the mouth in a helical movement.

The invention also provides a flatware set with at least one spoonspecially designed for the spaghetti meal and the like.

The invention further provides a flatware set which as a whole has anattractive appearance due to a high degree of uniformity of theessential flatware elements.

Finally, the invention provides a spaghetti server which is simple tomanufacture.

The invention will be elucidated in the description followinghereinbelow with reference to drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a holder with diverse flatware elements;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a fork;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show respectively a bottom view, a side view and afront view to actual size of a metal detail IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of detail VI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 shows FIG. 5 on enlarged scale with cross-sections at thepositions c, e, g and i of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 8-11, 15-19 and 23 show variants of detail VIII of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 shows a top view of a spoon;

FIG. 13 shows a cross-section XIII—XIII of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 shows a cross-section D through a variant of a fork according tothe invention taken at the corresponding position d in FIG. 4;

FIG. 15A shows the combination of cooperating metal elements of fork andspoon;

FIG. 20 shows a cross-section through a spoon intended for co-actionwith the fork end of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 shows a spoon.

FIG. 22 is a top view of a spoon according to the invention which, asshown in FIG. 21, is intended for co-action with the fork end of FIG.23;

FIG. 24 is a side view of the detail of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 shows a schematic working diagram of FIG. 21;

FIGS. 26-28 show views of a spaghetti server; and

FIG. 29 shows a cross-section along line XXIX—XXIX of FIG. 27.

The spaghetti flatware set 1 according to the invention is preferablyplaced in a holder 2 in which the flatware elements, i.e. a spaghettiserver 3 as according to WO 96/18334 or as according to FIGS. 26-29, aplurality, for instance 4, 6, 8 or 12, of spoons 4 and a plurality, forinstance 4, 6, 8 or 12, of forks 5, are disposed in a fan shape, whichproduces a fantail appearance, particularly if these elements arearranged over more than 45°, for instance over an angle of between 60°and 150°, at substantially uniform angular distances.

This flatware set 1 is intended and particularly suitable for eatingspaghetti, i.e. thick or thin, solid or hollow threads of pasta, whichmay or may not be mixed with sauce and/or pieces of meat and/orvegetables.

Holder 1 consists of two shells 24 which are mutually connected forpivoting by means of a hinge 21, which are mutually fastened forinstance with press-stud connections 22 and which each have a carryinghandle 23.

The upper shell 24 has a transparent window 25 and lower shell 24 hasrecesses or clamps (not shown) for fixedly holding flatware elements3-5.

Each fork 5 has a, for instance metal, eating element 11 comprising anelongate attachment 7 mounted in an essentially rotation-symmetricalhandle 6, a curved shoulder 12 connecting thereto with roundings 16 andhaving two teeth 8, 9 connecting thereto.

The outer rounding 16 and inner rounding 17 of shoulder 12 give theappearance of circle parts lying one within the other and having centreswhich are slightly shifted relative to one another. Teeth 8, 9 are benthelically round a central longitudinal axis 10 through substantially 90°from a horizontal plane of FIG. 3 into a vertical plane of FIG. 4. Atdiverse mutually spaced positions a, b, c . . . j the two teeth 8, 9preferably have their width directions in common planes A, B, C . . . J,so that when this fork 5 is withdrawn helically from the mouth a personalways feels between teeth and lips a substantially smooth eatingelement 11 which is continuous even in transverse direction andpreferably substantially flat.

FIG. 14 is an example of a cross-section wherein teeth 8, 9 extend in atransverse plane which is preferably smooth, slightly curved and in anycase adapted to the mouth.

Tooth 9 has an outwardly curved free end 13, whereby the entrancebetween teeth 8, 9, is enlarged, while this end 13 also functions ashook, whereby threads of spaghetti are held fast when the fork is indownward directed position. Tooth 8 has a pointed free end 14 with aninner surface 15 with enlarges entrance 16 towards the outside. Piecesof meat and/or vegetables can be pierced with this pointed end.

In FIGS. 8-10 tooth 9 has the same end 14 as tooth 8.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 a spaghetti-hooking protuberance 15 is arranged atdifferent positions.

Spoon 4 and fork 5 preferably have an identical handle 6 whichpreferably has the same shape as, but is smaller than the handle 18 ofspaghetti server 3. All, for instance wooden, handles 6 and 18 eachpreferably have a semi-spherical and a spherical end, preferably ofmetal.

The metal eating part 19 of spoon 4 and the eating part 11 of fork 5preferably have identically shaped roundings 16. Eating element 15 isspoon-shaped with a round recess 20 in which tooth ends 13, 14 of a fork5 can be received for rotation.

Fork 5 and spoon 4 are drawn to actual size in FIGS. 2-5, 8-13 and15-29. The measured size and form of elements and details thereof areused as technical information of the preferred embodiment.

Eating elements 11 and 19 and serving part 33 also function if theembodiments differ from those drawn. The variations preferably remainwithin the tolerance of ±100%, more preferably ±50% and most preferably±25%.

The screw of teeth 8, 9 can optionally already begin on their free endsand may or may not extend over more, or even less, than about 90° of thedistance Y or Z. The spiral preferably makes an angle of at least 30°,at least 45° or at least 60° and for instance less than 190°, preferablyless than 140°.

Each of the forks with helical teeth 8, 9 shown in FIGS. 2-11 and 14 canbe used as spaghetti server if it is large enough to pick up a servingportion of spaghetti. For this purpose its length is for instancebetween 200 and 700%, preferably between 300 and 600% and morepreferably between 400 and 500% of the length shown to scale in thefigures. A larger take-up capacity which is suitable for serving isobtained by lengthening the teeth, wherein teeth 8, 9 are optionallyspiralled through considerably more than 90%, and/or by slightlywidening the fork, wherein a for instance straight central tooth isoptionally added.

Spoon 4 has a guide which defines the rotation path of the fork end andwhich is formed by a recess 20 (FIGS. 12, 13), by a round hole 26, ofwhich the diameter P if just slightly larger than the outer dimension Qof tooth ends 13, 14 (FIGS. 18, 20), or by a ring groove 27 (FIGS. 21,22 and 25). The distance S between the contact points of fork ends 13,14 is herein slightly smaller than the diameter of the upwardprotuberance 29 encircled by the ring groove. A trailing guide is herebycreated which suppresses or at least reduces grating sounds.

The guide of the spoon and preferably also each tooth end are preferablypolished.

A surface treatment increasing smoothness is also effective againstnoise formation. For this purpose a special lining can be arranged onthe spoon at the position of the guide and/or the fork ends 13, 14 canbe provided for this purpose with a glass layer by immersion.

The eating elements 11 and 19 of FIG. 15A cooperate in such manner thatthe conical guide plate 41 of the recess 20 guides the free ends 13, 14of the teeth 8, 9. The dimensions are such that both ends 13, 14 do notsimultaneously touch the bottom 42, unless the fork is pressed into thespoon with such force that the teeth 8, 9 are elastically deformed andthe ends 13, 14 do approach each other a little. This deadens possibleteeth vibrations and so deadens possible squeak noise.

In the case the guide is an edge hole 26, one or each of the two teeth8, 9 has at a distance of for instance 5 mm from their free ends anoutward protuberance 40 which serves as stop.

The spaghetti server 50 of FIGS. 28, 29, comprising handle 32 andnon-round spiral 33, is manufactured from one injected moulded articleof sturdy plastic, for instance fibre-reinforced plastic.

The form of the spaghetti-engaging spiral is releasing.

The cross-section (FIG. 29) is for instance half-round with preferablyrather sharp edges.

Each of said handles is preferably rotation-symmetrical or at leastessentially rotation-symmetrical. These handles can for instance havelongitudinal ribs and/or one or more longitudinal recesses, providedwith a brand name or an identification mark.

What is claimed is:
 1. Flatware (1) for spaghetti, comprising at leastone fork (5) with at least two teeth (8, 9), characterized in that theat least two teeth (8, 9) extend substantially helically a round acentral axis (10) of the fork (5), and further characterized in that atleast one of the fork teeth (8, 9) has at least one hooking protuberance(13, 15), wherein at least one of the at least two teeth (8, 9) has anend (13) curving away from the other tooth.
 2. Flatware for spaghetticomprising at least one fork with two teeth, said two teeth extendingsubstantially helically a round a central axis of the fork, said twoteeth fitted on a shoulder of said fork in accordance with an internalrounding of substantially a semi-circle.
 3. Flatware for spaghetticomprising a plurality of forks, said forks having at least two teeth,said teeth extending substantially helically a round a central axis ofsaid forks, the flatware further including a plurality of spoons and aspaghetti server, all having a handle (6, 18) of substantially identicalshape which is substantially rotation-symmetrical, wherein the handle(18) of the spaghetti server (3) is longer than the handles (6) of theforks (5) and the spoons (4).
 4. Flatware (1) as claimed in claim 3characterized in that at least the forks (5) and spoons (4) are arrangedin the form of a fan in a holder (2) which is provided with a carryinghandle (23).